For quite some time, I’ve been of the opinion that books are not only labors of love but also works of art. The writing is, of course, the heart of the book…without a doubt. But there is something to be said for a beautiful cover, for an appeasing layout, for the details—be they flourishes around the page numbers or scrolls at section breaks—that show someone thought the book was worth the time and energy to make it special visually.

The same can be said for other documents, too. If you’ve been reading our Facebook posts, you’ll find that we’ve been working with a craftswoman at Threadlock Press to produce copies of our catalogue. She does beautiful printing the old fashioned way. I was gifted a book of poems she printed, and I when I decided that I wanted something beautiful to give away, I knew she’d be the person to work with.

What I’ve really been enjoying is her updates. She’s been sending me email messages with the status of the project, and these emails include pictures. I’m getting to see the process, which has been exciting!

After I sent her the content for the catalogue, we discussed the cover page. I sent her my logo, and she carved a linocut of it for the cover.

She also set the press name and our slogan. Check out the candle she used for the “I” in the first word.

We are using really beautiful paper, which she ordered. It hasn’t all arrived, but it’s starting to come in. She has begun cutting what is here so far.

With the paper here, some of the printing has started.

I’m so excited about this project. It’s great that we have a catalogue coming together. And even more exciting is that this will be a beautiful booklet that I will be proud to hand out.

A long time ago, I read a quote that said something to the effect that Polaroid pictures were going to be the undoing of our society. It took me a while to understand that. I mean, how does a photograph that develops in an instant hurt anything? Who didn’t love the excitement of taking the blank picture as it zipped out of the camera, keeping the front of the picture dark (although you knew you were going to turn it over to take a peek), and then shaking the picture or blowing on it to make sure it was dry. Boom. Instant gratification.

What could possibly be wrong with that?

Maybe it’s my age or maybe it’s simply the era in which we live, but I finally get it. I love technology and that I can make just about everything I want when I want it on my computer. I like that I can get pretty much anything I ever imagined delivered to my house the next day. I adore that I can stay connected and pretty much hear from anyone at any moment of the day.

It is awesome, really. But it leaves me breathless.

When I started the press, it didn’t take me long to figure out that there were choices to be made. There was only one person—me—to start, and I had to figure out how I wanted to budget my time. Did I want the instant gratification of whipping out one book after another, or did I want to slow down and do things the way I thought they should be done? I choose the later and found that it, too, had its pitfalls. It meant making the decision between turning out a high volume of ok books or spending time picking out just the right font for the cover of a book I loved. It meant sometimes trading prompt email responses for spending time on the phone with an author who is stressed about edits and needs to talk them through.

There are still lots of places in my life and in this business that need to be Polaroid. It’s just that sometimes, we all need to breathe.

It’s wonderful that we have a designated month to celebrate, but I know I couldn’t wait until once a year to read or write a poem. It’s just way to long. So grab a book to read (some favorites of mine are listed below) or find a pen and celebrate poetry now!

Happy Valentine’s Day from Cold Moon Press. We love our readers…and we’re giving away free ebooks to show it! Throughout this week, you can get a short story for your Kindle from our new line, Cold Moon Slivers. Find out how by clicking here: http://coldmoonpress.com/coldmoonslivers.html

Next time you’ve got an abundance of cash you just can’t seem to get rid of, hit the auction and pick up a couple copies of The Birds of America. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll own a book that costs as much as your own private island.

The LCPA What If…Science Fiction and Fantasy Forum present Zombies & Angels & Boogeymen, Oh My! on January 11 at noon (Library of Congess, Madison Building, Pickford Theater, LM 302). Please join the press and authors Vonnie Winslow Crist and Michelle D. Sonnier as they discuss how they use myth, legend, and folklore in tales of speculative fiction. We will explore these three characters in modern ways. The authors will then read excerpts from their books. This event is free and open to the public!

There you are…smack dab in the middle of a long project. The electric that was in the air during the thrilling newness of it has the spark of, well, a sock with static cling attached to a pant leg. And the finish line seems a million miles (or weeks, or words) away. Here is where you have a choice to make: do I have the heart to stick this out for the long haul, or do I move on?

This feeling is normal in many jobs but especially so in our field. Whether you are a writer, an editor, or a publisher, you are constantly challenged to stay motivated. Many of our projects take months, often up to a year or more, to complete. Couple that with the fact most of us do this work as a second job or a hobby and it can be hard to not only find time but also stay interested and motivated.

If you decide to stick with the project, here are a few things you can do to keep going.

Set smaller goals to meet on the way to project completion. Write them down with a firm deadline date. Then, once you’ve reached the goal, do something to celebrate.

Get other people involved. This field tends to get a bit solitary. Get interaction (and accountability!) through writing groups or other types of peer review.

Take a break. If you need to step away from a project, take some time to research, do some planning, or begin your marketing. That way, you’re still moving forward.

What other methods do you use to keep motivated over the long haul? Leave a comment!